I was having a conversation about a guy who was right smack dab in the middle of the Can Am racing world during the early 1970s. To me, outside of drag racing it was the coolest form of racing on the planet. The roller skate looking cars with screaming big block engines defined the word brutality for a generation of hot rodders who liked to turn corners. Like its little bother the Trans-Am series, Can-Am kind of peaked in the early 70s so it is fantastic to watch the video below and understand you are seeing the best of the best at their best.
Made after the death of Bruce McLaren, “The Heavies” is a look into this very fast style of road racing and what made the teams and racers tick. The real intensity of these races was the fact that they were true sprints, designed to be completed without pit stops. If you had to pull in, chances are that your goose was cooked.
Road America has been and always will be one of the most challenging road courses in the country. In 1970 the place was basically new so all of the drivers were really getting their feet wet there for the first time.
The Chaparral “sucker car” is profiled here as well and you can see why everyone hated it instantly. The amount of dirt, rubber, and crap flying out the back of the car is insane. If you were behind it, you’d be essentially blinded by the stuff and probably pelted with junk at the same time. That being said, it was not exactly reliable and that shows in this video as well.
Lastly, this was a big race because McLaren cars had won 20 in a row and they were shooting for 21. Racing with heavy hearts in the 1970s season after the death of their founder, this was a big weekend for them to keep the streak alive. Did they?
